THE Queen is worried about the potential break-up of the United Kingdom as Scotland threatens to move closer to independence, it was claimed yesterday.

The Queen is said to have asked No 10 to brief her about the impact of a referendum in Scotland []

She was said to have sought a detailed briefing from Downing Street on the implications of a split after the Scottish National Party won overall power in last month’s elections to the Edinburgh Parliament.

SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has spelled out his intention to hold a referendum for Scots to decide if they want to go it alone.

It is not known if the issue will be raised when he meets Prince Charles on Wednesday this week.

But the Queen and David Cameron meet regularly in private to discuss matters of state.

Yesterday it was claimed that Palace officials had asked Downing Street to provide a constitutional expert to discuss the potential implications of a referendum on the break-up of the UK.

A senior Palace source was said to have confirmed the talks had taken place and stressed it was the job of the Queen’s private secretary to keep a close eye on such issues “regardless of her Majesty’s personal views”.

I cannot forget that I was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The Queen

Buckingham Palace and Downing Street both declined to comment ­yesterday.

The Queen famously keeps her own views private but at her Silver Jubilee in 1977 told MPs: “I cannot forget that I was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”

Mr Cameron has said he will respect the outcome of any referendum in Scotland but insisted he will campaign strongly in favour of keeping the historic union intact.

However, some senior Tories are urging him to push to ensure a referendum is held as soon as possible to ensure Mr Salmond is not given time to build up momentum for a Yes vote. Mr Salmond yesterday strongly rejected suggestions the monarch had indicated concern.

A spokesman for the SNP leader said the story was “unadulterated rubbish” and “laughable nonsense”. He added: “The First Minister has many opportunities to speak to her Majesty the Queen and would never discuss anything that was said in these meetings.”

Mr Salmond has also made clear that the Queen, who owns large areas of land in Scotland including her Balmoral estate, would still be head of state in an independent Scotland, as she is in Commonwealth countries.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives declined to speculate on a private meeting between the Queen and Mr Cameron but added: “It is a question of identity. We can be comfortable being both Scottish and British – and should be proud to be both.”

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “Reports that the Queen is concerned about the break-up of Britain would be hardly surprising as so many people are concerned about what they now see as a threat to what has been one of the most harmonious, productive and successful political, social and economic unions in the world.

“The Royal Family’s strong ties and affection for Scotland are well known and reciprocated by most Scots.”

Labour has seized on a warning from economist Professor John Kay, an adviser to Mr Salmond, that independence would bring little gain to Scotland and could be fraught with dangers.

But the SNP hit back by highlighting the view of Andrew Hughes Hallett, professor of economics at St Andrews University, that independence would boost Scotland’s economic performance by giving it full power over tax- raising and energy sources.